Wellbore System With Lateral Wells

Abstract

A well system that intersects a subterranean formation, and which includes a motherbore disposed in a non-producing formation that is between producing zones. Connate fluids in the formation can be produced with the well system; alternatively, fluids can be injected into the formation through the well system. Lateral wellbores extend from the motherbore to depths that are both deeper and shallower than the motherbore. Flow to/from each lateral wellbore can be controlled by an inflow control valve. Wellhead assemblies mounted over an opening of the well system can be at a location that is spaced away from a populated area and far away from the hydrocarbon formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore system comprising:
 a motherbore formed in a non-producing zone of a subterranean formation;   a lateral wellbore extending from the motherbore into a shallower producing zone that is at a depth that is more shallow than the non-producing zone; and   another lateral wellbore extending from the motherbore into a deeper producing zone that is at a depth that is deeper than the non-producing zone.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , further comprising inflow control valves provided at intersections between the lateral wellbore and the motherbore, and the another lateral wellbore and the motherbore. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore system of  claim 2 , wherein the inflow control valves regulate flow from the lateral wellbores into the motherbore. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wellbore comprises a leg having a substantially vertical portion that penetrates the shallower producing zone. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore system of  claim 4 , wherein the leg has a substantially horizontal portion with an end attached to the vertical portion and an opposing end attached to the motherbore. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore system of  claim 5 , wherein the leg further comprises a tip portion that has an end attached to an end of the vertical portion distal from the horizontal portion, and that extends substantially horizontally in the shallower producing zone. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the another lateral wellbore comprises a leg having a substantially vertical portion that penetrates the deeper producing zone. 
     
     
         8 . The wellbore system of  claim 7 , wherein the leg has a substantially horizontal portion with an end attached to the vertical portion and an opposing end attached to the motherbore. 
     
     
         9 . The wellbore system of  claim 8 , wherein the leg further comprises a tip portion that has an end attached to an end of the vertical portion distal from the horizontal portion, and that extends substantially horizontally in the deeper producing zone. 
     
     
         10 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary wellbore that extends from surface and into communication with an end of the motherbore, wherein the motherbore extends along a generally horizontal path. 
     
     
         11 . The wellbore system of  claim 10 , further comprising a wellhead assembly on surface that is in communication with an end of the primary wellbore distal from the motherbore, wherein the motherbore, primary wellbore, shallower lateral wellbore, and deeper lateral wellbore define a well circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The wellbore system of  claim 11 , wherein the well circuit comprises a first well circuit and the primary wellbore comprises a first primary wellbore, the wellbore system further comprising a second well circuit having a second primary wellbore that intersects with the first primary wellbore, so that the second well circuit is in communication with the wellhead assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a wellbore system comprising:
 directing a flow of fluid from a producing zone in a subterranean formation into a non-producing zone that is in the subterranean formation;   directing another flow of fluid into the non-producing zone and from another producing zone in the subterranean formation that is on a side of non-producing zone opposite from the producing zone; and   directing the flow of fluid and the another flow of fluid to surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flow of fluid and the another flow of fluid are directed into a motherbore in the non-producing zone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow of fluid and the another flow of fluid flow through lateral bores into the motherbore, and wherein the lateral bores have substantially vertical portions that penetrate the producing zone and the another producing zone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising controlling a rate of the flow of fluid from the producing zone into the non-producing zone, and controlling a rate of the another flow of fluid from the another producing zone into the non-producing zone. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forming a motherbore in the non-producing zone, forming a lateral bore from the motherbore into the producing zone, and forming another lateral bore into the another producing zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the motherbore is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising forming a primary wellbore from surface and that is in communication with the motherbore. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising monitoring a composition of fluid making up one or more of the flow of fluid and the another flow of fluid flowing into the non-producing zone, and blocking fluid from entering the non-producing zone having a designated amount of a selected constituent.